wfn.org | Joint Conference of Lutheran seminaries in CIS planned

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

ELCROS and Missouri Synod will promote local exchange

ALMATY, Kazakhstan/GENEVA, Feb. 19, 1998 (lwi) - To ensure better
coordination of theological education in Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan
and Central Asia a conference of Lutheran seminaries in the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) is to be convoked this year, if possible, at the
latest in early 1999.

According to the newsletter of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia
and Other States (ELCROS), the planned venue is ELCROS' Theological
Seminary Novosaratovka.

The following seminaries will be invited to the conference: People of God's
Seminary, Almaty/Kazakhstan; Regional Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Kazakhstan (ELCRK), Akmola/Kazakhstan; Novosibirsk Lutheran
Seminary, Novosibirsk/Russia; Laurikkol Education Center of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR), Koltushi/Russia; Theological
Seminary Novosaratovka of the ELCROS, Novosaratovka/Russia.

The initiative to hold a joint conference of all Lutheran seminaries in the
CIS is one of the results of conversations held between representatives of
the ELCROS and of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod which took place in
January in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Missouri Synod runs the seminary in
Almaty. The ELCRK, as a diocese of the ELCROS, has its educational center
in Akmola.

Exchange will be promoted, despite differences

Clear differences, concerning education and overall aims, became manifest
during the conversations, according to the newsletter. The ELCRK in Akmola
aims at promoting women and men already active in congregations and wishes
to start working as soon as possible, while the Missouri Synod's "People of
God's Seminary" intends to train students who will found new congregations
in the future.

Despite these differences, the conversations revealed possible areas of
cooperation. It was agreed, for instance, to exchange lecturers and
students, to conduct one or two joint seminars each year and to arrange for
mutual exchange of study material.

In addition, the ELCRK and "Representative Office of the Religious
Corporation Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Kazakhstan" each will
nominate a representative to facilitate "constant exchange of information".
Each synod will reciprocally invite observers.

Both sides agreed that their ultimate aim is a joint "United Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan".

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@wcc-coe.org
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